The Ministry of Seeking the Lost Sheep

In this era of the mega-church movements and thousands of people gathering for worship, there are hundreds of thousands of souls who are lost in the exhilaration and never heard from or seen again. 

For whatever reason they got lost, whether by neglect of the pastors, discouragement in growth, deception of the devil, or they were trapped by sin, God cares for the lost souls and made it a point to seek them out.

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” St. Matthew 18:11.

There are many souls lost within the world and were once apart of the church of Christ, who have been captured by the snares of the devil. Often times, church members realize that someone is missing but blame that person for their downfall or for backsliding into their old sins. Sometimes this is true, but often times it is for other reasons.

Many times the pastors themselves are to blame, or the members of the congregation who are over-judgmental. According to the judgment of the Lord, He will put the responsibility on the pastors for the condition of the flock and those who are lost. “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.” Jeremiah 50:6. 

Sometimes Pastors and their pulpit ministers get too caught up in gaining souls and making money and they forget to seek the souls that are lost, if they actually realize they are lost. Many pastors do not have the sympathy to seek out the lost but only care about themselves and their favorite members, the members who give the most money. And many members get caught up in doing the pastor’s bidding.

But God has a message for those pastors, He says: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezekiel 34:2-4.

The Lord encourages believers to pray for their brothers if they know their brother has sinned or is in iniquity, or if they have not seen their brother in a while at church or around the community. Sometimes God will place people in believers lives at certain times because they are a lost soul and need deliverance. Or will lead them to a soul who have been missing for a while.

The ministry of seeking out or delivering lost souls is a calling to many believers, some unaware. But we must always be ready to entertain angels unaware because they may be a lost soul. They should not be judged harshly or neglected but ministered to; the scripture says: “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20.

Believers with this ministry are rewarded by God for doing the work of the gospel. Pastors, especially, should keep account of the souls in his congregation on a personal level because they are responsible for all souls under them. “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:7.

If this is a calling anyone feels they have been appointed, do so with care when coming upon a lost soul. There could be many reasons they have fallen from grace and need comfort and support, not criticism or harsh judgment.

“I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.” Ezekiel 34:16.

Parables of lost sheep:

St Matthew 18:11-14

Prodical Son - Luke 15 11-32